Non-refillable bottle.



No. 808,569 PATBNTED DEC. 26, 1905. H. L. NORMAN.

NON-REPILLABLE BOTTLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15.1905.

I rnvrrnn srarns PATENT CFFICE.

NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed March 15, 1905. S rial No. 250,256.

1'0 aZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGO L. NORMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Havana, Republic of Cuba, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Non- Refillable Bottles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of a novel closure for bottles or like necked receptacles, and provides a device of this class particularly de signed to prevent refilling of the receptacle after the original contents have been once withdrawn.

The intent of the invention is to secure a simple and effective means for preventing persons with fraudulent intentions from filling an emptied receptacle with contents inferior to those originally put out in said receptacle, obviating the likelihood of fraud against the public, as well as the producer of the original goods sold in the receptacle.

structurally speaking, the invention contemplates the provision of a closure embodying peculiar valve means which will prevent the contents of the receptacle from being withdrawn except upon wholly inverting the same and whichwill eifectuallythwart any attempt to introduce goods into the receptacle, special guard means being utilized for cooperation with the valve means to prevent tampering with the latter.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire aknowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section showing the invention in side elevation, partially broken away, showing the upper portion of the bottle having the invention applied thereto- Fig. 2 is avertical section bringing out more clearly the closure comprising the invention. Fig". 3 is a sectional view showing the neck in the position assumed thereby when the bottle is partially inverted, illustrating the effectiveness of the valve devices. Fig. 4 is a view showing the bottle, the neck wholly inverted and the valves in open positions.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

In carrying out the invention the bottle (indicated at 1) may be of the same general form as many of the receptacles of this class now in use, being provided with the usual neck 2. The neck 2 is provided with a longitudinal opening th erethrough, and this opening flares toward the mouth of the neck. It is preferred that the neck itself be made flaring toward its mouth, though this is not necessary in the broad contemplation of the invention if the opening therethrough is formed as be fore described.

The closure 3, which comprises the essential feature of this invention, consists of a hollow or tubular body, being formed with a longitudinal opening 4 therethrough. Said closure is of a size adapted to be received in the neck 2, the body of the closure tapering toward one end, so as to conform with the interior construction of the neck. as described before. In other words, the body of the closure 3 snugly fits within the neck 2, the said closure being of circular formation in crosssection, so that when once placed in position in the neck the same cannot be displaced. Extending outwardly or laterally from the longitudinal opening 4 in the closure 3 are a plurality of openings 5, said openings leading through the wall of the closure, as shown most clearly in the figures of the drawings. The'openings 5 are upwardly inclined in their length and are of such a size as to readily receive valves 6, one of which is adapted to move in the bore of each of the openings 5. The valves 6, which operate in the openings 5,E are preferably ball-valves, and these valves may be made of any suitable material in order that they may have sufficient weight to gravitate toward the lower extremities of the openings 5 aforesaid. It is preferred that the valves6 shall be made of metal coated with porcelain, and each of these valves is of a size slightly greaterthanthe diameter of the opening 4, which extends longitudinally of the closure 3. Under normal conditions, therefore, the valves 6 are seated in the opening 4, so as to close this opening. The laterally-extending openings 5 are disposed at intervals lCO in the length of the closure 3 and are out of vertical alinement in order that the valves which operate therein will be disposed at opposite points'in the wall of the closure 3, this being an essential feature of the invention, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

In addition to the valves 6, which are disposed at intervals in the length of the closure 4 and arranged substantially as described above, said closure 3 is provided at its uppermost extremity with a flap or similar valve 7, which opens outwardly, being adapted, however, to normally close the outer extremity of the opening 5. The closure 3 is pro- .tected by means of a suitable guard 8,which is received in the neck 2 above said closure 3, the guard being sufiiciently spaced from the closure 3 to admit of free opening movement of the valve 7 aforesaid. The guard 8 consists of a body having the peripheral portion thereof formed with spiral channels 9, said channels extending from the outer extremity to the inner extremity of the guard to admit of free egress of the contents of the receptacle in passing thereby. The guard 8 is held in position in the neck by any suitable means which it may be desired to use for this purpose,'and under general conditions the frictional engagement of the guard with the inner walls of the neck is sufficient for all purposes. Above the guard 8 the neck 2 will be closed by the usual cork or closure 10, comi of the device, as hereinbefore set forth, it will be noted that upon partially inverting the receptacle certain of the valves 6 will move toward the outer extremities of the openings 5, but other of said valves located at diametrically opposite points in the wall of the closure 3 will remain in a position closing the open ing 4 by gravity. No matter in what position the receptacle may be held when partially inverted a certain one or more of the valves 6 will close the opening 4 and prevent egress of the contents thereof. When the receptacle is wholly inverted, however, the valves 6 will gravitate to the outer extremities of the openings 5, and the opening 4 or passage through the closure 3 will be uninterrupted, and the contents of the receptacle may pass through this opening by the valve 7 and out of the mouth of the bottle through the spiral channels in the guard 8, the cork or closure 10 having of course been previously removed. The receptacle cannot possibly be refilled, since if it is laid upon its side in liquid certain of the valves 6 will close the opening 4 and prevent ingress of fluid in a manner apparent. Further, if it is attempted to force liquid into the neck 2 when the bottle is wholly inverted, the flap-valve 7 will effectively prevent inflow of the same.

The construction of the invention is very simple, and it is preferred to make the parts 3 and 8 of glass or like material, though this is not essential, as any suitable substance may be used. The valves 6 may operate in recesses in the sides of the closure 3 or openings, such as 5, this being immaterial since the same effect is obtained.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new is 1. The combination of a bottle, a closure therefor having a longitudinal opening there through, and having lateral openings leading from the longitudinal opening, and valves mounted in said lateral openings.

2. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination of a bottle, and a closure therefor comprising a body having a longitudinal opening therethrough, and valves located at sides of the longitudinal opening at intervals in its length and adapted to close said longitudinal opening, said valves being out of longitudinal alinement.

3. The combination of a bottle, a closure therefor having a longitudinal opening therethrough, and having inclined lateral openings leading from the longitudinal opening, and gravityoperating valves mounted in said inclined lateral openings.

4. The combination of a bottle, a closure therefor having a longitudinal opening therethrough, and having lateral openings leading from the longitudinal opening, and valves adapted to close the longitudinal opening fand operating in the lateral openings as speciied.

5. A closure for bottles or like receptacles comprising a body having a longitudinal opening therethrough, the body having lateral openings leading from the longitudinal opening and arranged out of longitudinal alinement, and valves operating in said lateral openings and adapted to close the longitudinal opening.

6. A closure for bottles comprising a body having a longitudinal opening therethrough, the body having lateral openings leading from the longitudinal opening and arranged at intervals in the length of the body of the closure, said lateral openings being out of longitudinal alinement, and valves operating in the lateral openings and adapted to close the longitudinal opening.

7. A closure for bottles or like receptacles 8. The combination of a bottle provided with a neck, a closure in said neck comprising a body provided with a longitudinal opening therethrough, an inwardly-closing Valve at the upper and outer extremity of the opening aforesaid, the body of the closure being provided With lateral openings extending from the longitudinal opening, ball-valves oper 

